Negotiating salary is a core part of the interview process. When one applies for a job they need to understand that there are many different ways and techniques to use when negotiating the salary. They must take in all the different factors such as their qualifications and as well as all the compensations and benefits the job offers.
According to the article, “Negotiating a Salary Package” there are several different techniques one can use to negotiate a salary. The first technique according to this article is used when the employer first brings up the salary. One should not immediately jump at the first offer. One should repeat the first offer the employer gives and then not say anything at all. This technique is used to let the employer know you are thinking about the offer. Then the employee should list their strengths and benefits they could offer the company. The job seeker should let the employer know all of their qualifications and how they would be an asset to the company. In the end when you are ready to negotiate a salary make sure you know what you are talking about and do your homework prior to the interview. Know the top and bottom of the salary range for the job you are applying for in your area. Try to find out everything you can before you attend the interview. Some good things to know are how competitive the job market for that job is in your area, if they need to hire immediately, and what the boss is looking for in an applicant.
If the job market is competitive in the area you are applying then it depends on your past experience and any qualifications that might set you apart from another applicant. If there are a lot of other potential applicants and you do not have much experience then you might not be able to ask for as much in terms of salary. On the other hand if you do have more experience or there are not many qualified applicants you should be able to negotiate for a higher salary, especially if they are in great need of someone.
It is also good to know as much as one can about the person you are going to be working for and what they want to see in an applicant. As one does the research for the job they are applying for they need to try to find out about what goals the company tries to achieve. By knowing the goals the applicant can describe during the interview how they can be an asset to the company. By being an asset to the company the applicant can put themselves in a better position to negotiate a salary. The key in this is to make the employer know that you are worth every penny they are going to be spending by hiring you.
A possible job that I might apply for in the future, after I complete my degree would be an entry level Information Technology Administrator. During the salary portion of the interview I would start by listening to the salary range or their initial offer. I would let them tell me the offered salary then I would repeat it and then wait for them to continue the interview. According to payscale.com the pay scale for this job ranges from about $39,000 to $60,000 per year. So if they offered me $40, 000 per year I would repeat the $40,000 offer and wait to they continued with the interview. I would bring up that I have completed my degree with ITT Tech and list some of the classes that pertain directly to the position that I am applying for. Some of these classes would include IP Networking, Data Base concepts, and Linux Networking. By letting the employer know more about my experience in addition to my degree lets them know that I have a better understanding and that I am interested in the job field with which I am applying.
In Conclusion, the employer can make a better informed decision and hopefully a higher salary offer. Go into the interview I would set my lowest offer at $40,000, but since this was their first offer I would start off higher and work my way down to a compromise. I would take a slight decrease in salary if Earned Time Off or Vacation days are included in my benefits package. I would also take a slight decrease in my salary if I receive insurance benefits as a part of my compensation package. I would have to weigh each option based on the benefits that were offered to see if it was worth starting off at a lower salary. If they could not offer me anything, but $40,00 I would take it since it was my lowest offer, but I would not let onto this until we had negotiated.